Tag: Tipo 00

There are plenty of good Italians restaurants in Melbourne, yet if you asked ten different people where you could find the best pasta, Tipo will probably be mentioned more than a couple of times. The restaurant has been on my radar for years, from memory, they used to not take reservations, and the intimate dining space meant that a table was hard to come by. However, that is no longer the case, as bookings of all group sizes can be made now. This made things significantly easier for us, as a group of us had visited Tipo for a birthday celebration.

Bread with Whipped Ricotta

Free bread can never be the wrong way to start a meal, especially when they’re freshly baked from the kitchen, and served with some cool whipped ricotta, like the one served at Tipo.

Polenta Fritta – $9.00

The polenta chips were creamy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and the generous sprinkling of rosemary parmesan was delectable.

Octopus

Next, we ordered the octopus form the daily specials. The tentacles had a gorgeous char on them, and the smoky flavour really came through. The sweetness of the corn contrasted well with the smokiness of the octopus.

Burrata – $16.00

Cheese is always a winner in my book, and this was no exception. The creamy and cool burrata had a light drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and the caper berries added some tang to the plate, while the capsicum offered its sweetness, rounding off the dish.

Calamari – $19.00

The vibrant colours of the purple potatoes and the broad beans made this a visually enticing dish. Again, the smokiness of the calamari was more than welcome. This was a more subdued dish in comparison to the Octopus, as the flavours were all in a similar profile.

Casarecce – $25.00

Tipo’s menu comprises mainly of pasta, and we each ordered a different dish because variety is the spice of life. These little twists of casarecce had simple additions of radicchio, pork sausage and white wine. The bitterness from the radicchio can be a bit divisive, as one of us thoroughly dislike the bitter taste. I however, thought that it contrasted nicely with the juicy pork sausage. Although this was not mind-blowingly good, it was still a good plate of pasta.

Tagliolini Al Nero – $28.00

The squid ink tagliolini has become synonymous with Tipo at this point, and I had to of course try it on my first visit. The tangles of tagliolini was cooked perfectly, of course, the only way that Tipo knows how. The addition of fresh squid and bottarga meant that the sweetness of the crustacean really had a chance to shine.

Gnocchi Di Patate – $32.00

Another unanimous favourite was the gnocchi in a duck and mushroom ragu. The pillows of gnocchi were the best I’ve ever had, they were the perfect balance between being soft yet retaining a bite, and not overly starchy like gnocchis can often get at restaurants. The rich ragu was also a delight, the generous pieces of duck meat meant that this was an extremely satisfying bowl of pasta.

Pappardelle – $34.00

The pappardelle was essentially Tipo’s take on a traditional bolognese, substituting wild boar for beef. The thick pieces of pappardelle were again, perfect, and acted as the perfect vehicle for the bolognese. Although refined, this was still at its heart, comfort food that puts you in a happy place.

Although the $5 per head cake surcharge was a bit hefty in my opinion, the food at Tipo actually reached the high expectation I had going in, which is saying a lot. The service was on the briskier end, but it was still courteous enough. The price tag at Tipo means that I won’t be returning for a quick lunch anytime soon, but I’m certainly more than happy to re-visit the restaurant when the occasion calls for it.

How to get here:Tipo 00 is located on Little Bourke Street, a short five minutes walk from Melbourne Central.